Australian Nathan Holman won the European Tour co-sanctioned Australian PGA Championship in a three-way playoff at Royal Pines on Sunday.

Holman won on the first play-off hole with a par from American Harold Varner III and South Africa's Dylan Frittelli. Holman worked his way into contention for the play-off with a final round one-over 73 in tough playing conditions.

It was the second consecutive year the Gold Coast tournament was decided beyond the regulation 72 holes, but unlike last year's marathon seven-hole playoff between Australians Greg Chalmers, Adam Scott and Wade Ormsby, only one hole was needed.

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Holman, 24, held his nerve to make par on the 18th hole — one of the toughest in the new-look back nine at Royal Pines — while Varner and Frittelli both made bogeys.

The last international player to win the event was New Zealand's Greg Turner in 1989.

For his victory Holman will receive a full European Tour card for the next two years following a new co-sanctioning agreement with the Australian PGA.

Holman, Varner and Frittelli all finished on even par 288 for the tournament, a reflection of the windy conditions and the uncompromising nature of the remodelled back nine.

Varner only narrowly missed a nine-foot putt at the last, which would have seen him claim outright victory.

Holman looked poised to win it much earlier until nerves set in and he gave up back-to-back bogeys on the final two holes — the only blemishes on his card aside from a double-bogey on the first.

Zander Lombard, the 20-year-old former South African amateur who was tied for the overnight lead with Varner and Frittelli, finished fourth after a four-over-par 76.

Only six players managed to complete their final rounds below par, with the best score coming from Adam Stephens and South African Colin Nel, who both fired two-under-par 70s.